What are the rules for punctuating reported speech?

What are the rules for punctuating reported speech?

The rules for punctuating reported speech are as follows:

1. Quotation marks: The reported speech should be enclosed within quotation marks. For example, She said, "I am going to the store."

2. Punctuation within the reported speech: Any punctuation marks that were used in the original speech should be retained within the quotation marks. For example, He exclaimed, "What a beautiful day!"

3. Punctuation outside the reported speech: The punctuation that follows the reported speech should be placed outside the quotation marks. For example, She asked, "Can you help me?"

4. Reporting verbs: Reporting verbs such as said, asked, replied, etc., are used to introduce the reported speech. These verbs are usually followed by a comma. For example, He replied, "I don't know."

5. Indirect speech: If the reported speech is transformed into indirect speech, the punctuation may change. For example, She said that she was going to the store.

It is important to note that the specific punctuation rules may vary depending on the style guide or language conventions being followed.